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A GIFT IN YOUR
WILL FOR A
SAFE CLIMATE
Your legacy can safeguard their future.
The Climate Council acknowledges the Traditional
Custodians of the lands on which we live, meet and work.
We wish to pay our respects to Elders past, present and
emerging and recognise the continuous connection of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to Country.
“In our hands now lies not
only our own future, but that
of all living creatures with
whom we share the earth.”
David Attenborough
A MESSAGE
FROM AMANDA
Darebin parklands came about because of an amazing group
of people about fifty years ago. They saw a rubbish tip and
thought, this could be a wonderful place for our community to
enjoy Darebin Creek.
From this vision, they lobbied governments and created the
beautiful parklands of today. I love bringing my children here to
ramble around, do rock hopping, and play games in the bushes.
Witnessing nature through their eyes has been a beautiful thing.
As humans, we can get very captured in our own story which is
relatively short in geological timeframes. When I spend time in
nature, it gives me great perspective on my own life, and how
important it is to safeguard this beautiful planet for our children,
grandchildren, and all generations to come.
This is particularly relevant for our generation living in the climate
crisis, because how we change our climate will fundamentally
affect all those that come after us.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
4
For many people, making a gift in their will has become an
increasingly important way to make a big difference on climate
change. The Climate Council is proudly community-powered,
and such visionary support is invaluable to securing our
continued independence for the long term.
Thank you so much for considering such a special gift to
support the vital work we do together. It may not always
seem like it, but we are not so different from the group of
people with a vision for Darebin parklands.
Amanda McKenzie,
CEO Climate Council
OUR CLIMATE
CHALLENGE
With just over a degree of warming, the impacts
of climate change are already being felt strongly
around the world. Our communities and
environment are already facing unprecedented
extreme weather and other impacts.
Climate change – driven primarily by burning
coal, oil and gas – is impacting us all, though
those least responsible or able to cope are being
hit first and hardest. We can often limit the
harm by building community resilience and
improving disaster preparedness, particularly
for the most vulnerable.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
6
But this is no substitute for doing everything
possible to move swiftly beyond fossil fuels.
Although some changes in the climate system
are now unavoidable, others can be slowed or
even stopped entirely. It can be done. Albeit with
a mammoth, transformative, all-of-society effort.
After reducing emissions to zero, our urgent
response must continue. Restoring ecosystems
and drawing carbon back down will be vital. Our
actions now and in the decades to come will have
profound impacts on the survival and wellbeing
of our children and grandchildren.
THE VISION
WE SHARE
We share a vision for Australia to become a
world leader in the global response to climate
change. Yes, we must still face the disasters
locked in by past inaction, but we will be better
equipped to weather those storms.
Our homes will be more comfortable and resilient
to the elements, and plugged into affordable,
abundant renewable energy. A new generation
of Australians will be upskilled to drive our clean
industries forward and engaged in well-paid and
secure jobs.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
We will be working in partnership with
Indigenous peoples, our neighbors in the Pacific
and communities worldwide to share knowledge
and expertise in creating a more just and
equal future. With our help, ecosystems will be
regenerating and species returning.
Our air will be cleaner. We will be more active in
how we get around, feeling the breeze as we walk,
ride, scoot or use public transport, with electric
vehicles commonplace on our quiet and cleaner
roads. Children will be feeling hopeful, not
fearful, for their future.
8
YOUR
IMPACT
The Climate Council is your independent, evidence-based
organisation for climate science, impacts and solutions.
Founded in 2013 through Australia’s then largest crowdfunder,
we are still proudly community-powered.
The Climate Council has published over a hundred and fifty peerreviewed
reports and briefings. We make complex issues accessible,
securing tens of thousands of media items, and reaching millions
of people every year. By driving home the urgency of the climate
crisis – predominately through the lens of extreme weather - and
the solutions available to us, we ensure public concern stays at
record highs, and at the top of the political agenda.
We are made up of some of Australia’s leading experts in climate
science, health, renewable energy, economics, business and policy.
Our independence gives us the power to call out misinformation,
advocate for local, state and federal solutions, and deliver strategic
interventions to help safeguard our climate. This is only possible
because of our supporters – like you.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
Your support helps to
keep climate change high
on the national agenda,
and advocate for
genuine solutions.
10
STRATEGIC
INTERVENTIONS
You might not have heard of the Climate Media Centre, but you will
be very familiar with the work we do.
Started by the Climate Council in 2015, the Climate Media Centre
was created to address the communication challenges presented by
climate change, including lack of mainstream media coverage of
effective spokespeople.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
We are now the go-to resource for journalists in Australia and
have revolutionised the media landscape. Your support helps find,
train and empower diverse voices – from farmers to coal workers
to renewable energy experts – to effectively communicate about
climate impacts and solutions.
The Climate Media Centre’s work helps seed and support influential
groups and constituencies calling for change, like Farmers for
Climate Action, Cricket for Climate, and the Torres Strait 8.
12
Australia’s largest network of local councils leading the way towards a
thriving, zero-emissions future.
Founded by the Climate Council in 2017 to build local climate
momentum in the absence of federal action, the Cities Power
Partnership is now made up of over 180 councils, representing nearly
70 percent of Australians.
To join, councils take five pledges to ramp up clean energy, energy
efficiency and sustainable transport, then gain access to an online
platform to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Fortnightly webinars feature expert presenters and up-to-the-minute
case studies like multi-council bulk buy renewable energy projects
and EV charging networks. Initiatives involved in the Cities Power
Partnership are now being adopted by state and federal governments.
Former Fire and Emergency Service leaders have changed the national
conversation on climate and extreme weather.
Founded by the Climate Council and Greg Mullins AO AFSM, Former
Commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales in 2018, Emergency
Leaders for Climate action have shut down the argument that climate
change shouldn’t be mentioned during extreme weather events, and
clearly articulated how these events are aggregated by climate change.
Their impact has been profound. During the 2009 bushfire crisis,
just five percent of media coverage linked bushfires with climate
change compared to half of the coverage during the 2019/2020, with
Emergency Leaders the most quoted.
Emergency Leaders for Climate Action are now playing a vital role in
calling for an end to fossil fuels and better resourcing for fires and
emergency services. 13
CLIMATE COUNCIL
OUR
VISIONARIES
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
14
I was lucky to grow up close to nature in a beautiful spot along
the Murray River. My parents were keen bird watchers and we
spent the weekends out in the bush. That’s where I developed an
affinity with nature.
This led me to become a scientist, and I was particularly fascinated
by insects. When I finished my studies, I was offered a job in
Tamworth as an agricultural entomologist.
That was forty five years ago, and I love the environment and
community here. It was around twenty years ago I started seeing
the impacts of climate change, with new pest species showing up,
their range having moved south as the climate warmed.
As a scientist, this was very obviously climate change. But rural
people were going to be some of the first and most affected
and didn’t know the danger they were in. So I resolved to do
something about it.
I left a gift in my will to the Climate Council because they make the
science accessible and advocate for the solutions we need. I have
young people in my life I care about and my hope is that we address
the climate crisis and they are able to live healthy, happy lives.
Dr Robin Gunning
Climate Council Legacy Donor
CLIMATE COUNCIL
15
Within days of coming to power in September 2013, the Abbott
government abolished the Climate Change Commission. Outraged,
tens of thousands of Australians, including myself, were immediately
galvanised into donating to establish an independent Climate Council.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
16
I’m now a rusted-on supporter for a number of reasons. During a long
and fortunate life, I’ve had the privilege of working in the media and
in aid and development organisations, in the process learning how
essential it is to campaign though powerful truth-telling, no topic being
more important than climate change.
I live near an idyllic little parcel of bushland, close to inner Sydney. Not
a day goes past when I don’t walk my Border Collie with the thought
at the back of my mind that no paradise, however tiny and personal, is
immune to eventual degradation. I think of my descendants and the
fragile world they will inherit.
If we believe that climate change and our environment is pretty close to
being the only game in town then action, immediate and continuing,
is the antidote to despair, which is a killer. The unprecedented times in
which we live call for the wonderful passion and clarity that the Climate
Council provides to an aching world.
I decided some time ago that this continuation can outlast our “mortal
coil” by committing to a legacy to help the Climate Council remain
strong and vibrant. In a way, it is also a precious gift to those who
survive me, including my son and grandchildren.
Tony Bond
Climate Council Legacy Donor
CLIMATE COUNCIL
17
THE DIFFERENCE
YOUR GIFT CAN MAKE
Leaving a gift to the Climate Council in your
will is one of the most powerful ways to make a
difference on climate change long into the future.
After you have provided for your family and
loved ones, your visionary legacy gift will help
ensure a safe and healthy future for our children,
grandchildren and generations to come.
The Climate Council is evidence-led and
responsive to the challenges presented by
climate change is the go-to trusted resource
on climate science and solutions in Australia.
You can be sure that your future gift will
power the smartest opportunities to make
a difference on climate change.
Your gift enables your voice and values
to live on, creating a lasting legacy of
a safe climate.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
18
Large or small, your gift
demonstrates your deep
commitment to climate
action and will help create
a safe and beautiful planet
for generations to come.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
20
WHERE
TO START
Making a gift in your will
to the Climate Council is
a simple process.
1. Choose the family, loved ones and charities that you would like
to include in your will.
2. Talk about it with your family and loved ones. Share your plans
and vision with them.
3. Choose the type of gift you would like to make:
A residual gift is where the remainder (or a proportion of the
remainder) of your estate goes to the Climate Council. This is
one of the preferred choices to allow for inflation, rather than
decreasing in value over time.
A percentage gift is where a portion of your estate goes to the
Climate Council. This is another of the preferred choices to allow
for inflation.
A specific gift is where a specific asset, or stated sum of money
goes to the Climate Council.
You may wish to use the wording as follows:
I give to the Climate Council Australia Limited of 8 Short Street,
Surry Hills NSW [ABN 52 165 914 303] the residue of my estate / a
___% share of my estate / the sum of $___) for its general purposes.
4. Contact your Solicitor to write or update your will
We recommend seeking legal advice when writing or updating
your will. If you need a lawyer, reach out to your state or territory
law society and they can refer you.
We have also partnered with Gathered Here to help supporters
write a free, online will, appropriate for simple estates only.
Visit: climc.nl/gatheredhere.
5. Please let us know if you have made the decision to include
a gift in your will to the Climate Council. We would love to
welcome you into our Legacy Circle and keep you connected
to our work. You can contact us directly on (02) 9356 8531 or
legacy@climatecouncil.org.au
CLIMATE COUNCIL
21
A MESSAGE
FROM TIM
I grew up in outer suburban Melbourne, and my
playground was the bushland near our family home.
As the city expanded rapidly around us, this natural
wonderland was being destroyed before my eyes.
That’s what led me to become an environmentalist.
Climate change is the biggest threat to our
environment, and the survival and wellbeing of all
species, including our own. But I’m still confident
we can make a huge difference and change course
towards a better future.
A GIFT IN YOUR WILL FOR A SAFE CLIMATE
22
Making a gift to the Climate Council in your will
is one of the best ways to help. You can make an
extraordinary difference that lasts beyond your
lifetime. It’s really an investment in the future our
children will inherit, which is what wills are all about.
Thank you for considering such a visionary gift,
to protect the great, big playground we all share.
Tim Flannery
Chief Councillor and Legacy Ambassador
Thank you for supporting
the Climate Council
The Climate Council is an independent, crowd-funded
organisation providing quality information on climate
change to the Australian public.
Climate Council
T: (02) 9356 8531
E: legacy@climatecouncil.org.au
www.climatecouncil.org.au
Images: Cover. Family by Juliane Liebermann / Australian Gum Trees by Vika-Jordanov. Pg. 2-3 Blue Mountains by
Magann. Pg. 6-7 Great Barrier Reef Bleaching by Dean Miller. Bushfire by Anthony Clark. Townsville Floods by Andrew
Rankin (Australian Associated Press). Pg. 8-9 Solar Farm by Genex. Victoria Bridge by Brisbane Development. Glenelg
River by Leigh Blackall. Pg. 15 Emily Goodhart. Pg. 17 Bushfire recovery by Doug Gimesy. Pg. 18-19 Coral by Jaye Jenkins.
Pg. 20 Mountain Pygmy Possum by Doug Gimesy. Pg. 22-23 Tim Flannery by Alice WS.